Construction of suit and like cases



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A. B. COLE TAL I CONSTRUCTION OF SUIT AND LIKE CASES Feb. 2l, 1950 FiledJune 14, 1946 b llfll Feb. 2l, 1950 A. B. coLE ETAL CONSTRUCTION oFsur'r AND LIKE cAsEs 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 14, 1946 Attorney lPatented Feb. 21 1950 CONSTRUCTION* SUIT AND LIKE CASES Albert BertramCole and sydney Harry Cole, Holborn, London, England ApplicationJune'14, 1946, Serial No.` 676,807;

' In Great Britain t111151,10, 1945 1 Claim. 1

This invention relates to the construction of suit and like cases, andit has for its object the provision of a case of light weight primarilydesigned for use when travelling by aircraft.

According to this invention the elements comprising the main body andcover of the case are formed of thin sheet metal, plywood, bre, plasticsor like material the adjacent edges of such elements being secured toeach other and reinforced by means of channelled elements.

In the accompanying drawings which illustrate an embodiment of thisinvention:

Figure l is a perspective view of a suit case constructed in accordancewith the invention.

Figure 2 is an exploded perspective view of the suit case, excluding thecover, shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a section on the line III-III of Figure l viewed in thedirection of the arrows.

Figure 4 is a section lon the line IV-IV of Figure 1 viewed in thedirection of the arrows.

Figure 5 is a diagrammatic perspective view (on a reduced scale) of amodication, and,

Figure 6 is a perspective view, partly in section, illustrating theapplication of the invention to a different type of case.

Referring to Figures 1 to 4 of the drawings, the element comprising thebody of a case constructed according to this invention, is built on tothe reinforcing elements which may be of metal or other suitablematerial, each of which comprises in the embodiment illustrated a stripof metal l bent to form a right angle, a longitudinally disposed pocketor channel 2 being formed at the bend, the bent strip I being thereaftercurved or bent transversely of its length at the desired positions toform the corners of the body or cover of the case. If desired one orboth of the longitudinal edges of the strip may be turned over to form abeaded edge.

In building up the body of the case, the end edges of the bottom 3 andside Walls 4, the bottom and side walls being preferably formed in onepiece as shown in Figure 2, are pressed into the longitudinally disposedpockets or channels 2 formed in the bent metal strips I, as shown inFigure 3, the material of which the body is formed is then secured bysuitably disposed rivets 5 to the inner face of the metal stripsl I. Theelements comprising end Walls 6 of the case are then placed in therecess formed by the channelling of the strip so that they bear againstthe outer face of the metal strips I and are secured in position byrivets 1. The cover 8 of the case is built up and formed in a similarmanner, the body vand cover being. connected. by suitable hinges 9 andby limiting straps. Il).

The nboda7 portonis preferably provided with the usual upstandingfillet, I-,I around the top inner edge over which the cover 8 is adaptedto lit and thereby close the joint between the two parts.

While the metal strips are described and illustrated as being secured tothe body or cover by rivets 5', it will be understood that any otherconvenient securing means such as stitching may be used.

According to a modified form of the invention as illustrated in Figure 5the body and/or cover may be further reinforced longitudinally by theprovision of reinforcing straps I2 of a light metal riveted or otherwisesecured at their free ends to the two end channelled reinforcing stripsI and to the free edges of the case and, also, if desired by additionalstrips I3 and I 4 at the corners where the bottom and/or top surfacesmeet the side and/or end walls.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figure 6, the top edgeof the side wall I5 of the cover is pressed into the channel 2 and thetop It of said cover is secured in the recess formed by the channellingof the strip I'. The bottom edge of side wall I1 of the body is pressedinto the channel 2 while the bottom I8 may be secured in the recess asabove described or it may be secured to the inside of the strip asshown. The cover is arranged to fit over a llet I9 secured to the bodyin the known manner.

Where the elements comprising the main body and cover portions areformed of certain materials such as plywood, the outer surfaces may, ifdesired, be covered with thin hide or other suitable material.

It will be understood that the channelled elements may if desired beformed of plastics or other suitable material.

While, as above stated, the object of the invention is the production ofa light weight travelling case, it will be appreciated that saidinvention may also be applied to large cases, such as trunks, and alsoto packing boxes of plywood, card or other desired material.

What we claim is:

A suitcase construction comprising a body section and a cover sectionhinged thereto, each section including an integral U-shaped member ofthin, sheet material forming a bottom and two opposite side walls; apair of panels to form end walls; a pair of assembly elements foruniting said U-shaped member and panels into a unitary structure, one ofsaid assembly elements being disposed at each end of said body section,each assembly element comprising a single ply continuous strip ofmaterial U-shaped in end elevation, said element having two legsarranged substantially at right angles to one another in cross section,one of the legs being offset laterally from the connecting edge of theother leg and spaced therefrom by a bend forming a channel on one faceof said continuous strip and a recess on the other face thereof: theopposite ends of said U-shaped body section being tted into the channelof the respective assembly elements and secured thereto by fasteningmeans; one of said panels being tted into the recess formed by theoffset leg and bend of each respective assembly element, and securedthereto by fastenmg means; straps extending across the body section andconnecting the adjacent legs of the respective assembly elements, andstraps extending across each assembly element and connectlng the oisetlegs thereof.

ALBERT BERTRAM COLE. SYDNEY HARRY COLE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le ofthis patent:

